Seat cushion with flexible contouring

Abstract

A cushion for supporting a user relative to a support surface is provided. The cushion has material with sufficient flexibility to deform under a weight of the user and sufficient resilience to return to its original state when the weight is removed. A supporting face contacts the support surface and is characterized by a plurality of points. The supporting face is contoured such that, when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration, a first subset of the plurality of points contact the support surface and a second subset of the plurality of points do not contact the support surface. When a user then sits on the cushion so that it is in a loaded configuration, at least some of the points in the second subset are displaced under the user's weight and contact the support surface. The cushion thus both bends and compresses to distribute the weight of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cushion comprising:
 a sitting face on a top side of the cushion, the sitting face configured to contact portions of a user when supported by the cushion; and 
 a supporting face on an under side of the cushion and characterized by a plurality of pillars; 
 a first subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to contact a support surface on which the cushion is placed when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration; 
 a second subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to not contact the support surface in the unloaded configuration; 
 a plurality of troughs disposed on the supporting face, the plurality of troughs disposed between the second subset of pillars to decrease surface tension on the supporting face near the plurality of troughs; 
 wherein in a loaded configuration when a weight of a user is placed on the sitting face of the cushion at least some of the pillars in the second subset of pillars contact the support surface; 
 wherein a number of the pillars in the second subset of pillars that contact the support surface in the loaded configuration depends on a specific weight and body contour of the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the pillars corresponding to the second subset are shortest underneath an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user and increase in height as pillar placement on the supporting face moves away from an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user. 
     
     
       3. The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion deforms primarily by bending as a load is applied in the loaded configuration. 
     
     
       4. The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the sitting face further comprises a contour configured to match a generic anatomical shape of a seated user and configured to aid in positioning the seated user in a therapeutically optimal position. 
     
     
       5. The cushion of  claim 4 , wherein the contour further comprises a recessed area configured to receive a pelvis and coccyx of the seated user and elevated components to support and orient thighs and hips of the seated user. 
     
     
       6. A cushion comprising:
 a sitting face on a top side of the cushion, the sitting face configured to contact portions of a user when supported by the cushion; and 
 a supporting face on an under side of the cushion and characterized by a plurality of pillars; 
 a first subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to contact a support surface on which the cushion is placed when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration; 
 a second subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to not contact the support surface in the unloaded configuration, the second subset of the plurality of pillars having an unloaded height being a sum of the distance between a bottom of each pillar of the second subset and the support surface in the unloaded configuration; 
 a plurality of troughs disposed on the supporting face, the plurality of troughs disposed between the second subset of pillars to decrease surface tension on the supporting face near the plurality of troughs; 
 wherein in a loaded configuration when a weight of a user is placed on the sitting face of the cushion the unloaded height is greater than a loaded height being a sum of the distance between a bottom of each pillar of the second subset and the support surface in the loaded configuration; 
 wherein a difference between the unloaded height and the loaded height depends on a specific weight and body contour of the user. 
 
     
     
       7. The cushion of  claim 6 , wherein the pillars corresponding to the second subset are shortest underneath an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user and increase in height as pillar placement on the supporting face moves away from an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user. 
     
     
       8. The cushion of  claim 6 , wherein the cushion deforms primarily by bending as a load is applied in the loaded configuration. 
     
     
       9. The cushion of  claim 6 , wherein the sitting face further comprises a contour configured to match a generic anatomical shape of a seated user and configured to aid in positioning the seated user in a therapeutically optimal position. 
     
     
       10. The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the contour further comprises a recessed area configured to receive a pelvis and coccyx of the seated user and elevated components to support and orient thighs and hips of the seated user. 
     
     
       11. A cushion comprising:
 a sitting face on a top side of the cushion comprising a contoured depression, the sitting face configured to contact portions of a user when supported by the cushion; and 
 a supporting face on an under side of the cushion and characterized by a plurality of pillars; 
 a first subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to contact a support surface on which the cushion is placed when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration; 
 a second subset of the plurality of pillars positioned underneath the contoured depression and dimensioned to not contact the support surface in the unloaded configuration; 
 a plurality of troughs disposed on the supporting face, the plurality of troughs disposed between the second subset of pillars to decrease surface tension on the supporting face near the plurality of troughs; 
 wherein in a loaded configuration when a weight of a user is placed on the sitting face of the cushion at least some of the pillars in the second subset of pillars contact the support surface. 
 
     
     
       12. The cushion of  claim 11 , wherein the pillars corresponding to the second subset are shortest underneath an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user and increase in height as pillar placement on the supporting face moves away from an area of the cushion for receiving ischial tuberosities of the user. 
     
     
       13. The cushion of  claim 11 , wherein the cushion deforms primarily by bending as a load is applied in the loaded configuration. 
     
     
       14. The cushion of  claim 11 , wherein the sitting face further comprises a contour configured to match a generic anatomical shape of a seated user and configured to aid in positioning the seated user in a therapeutically optimal position. 
     
     
       15. The cushion of  claim 14 , wherein the contour further comprises a recessed area configured to receive a pelvis and coccyx of the seated user and elevated components to support and orient thighs and hips of the seated user. 
     
     
       16. A cushion comprising:
 a sitting face on a top side of the cushion, the sitting face configured to contact portions of a user when supported by the cushion; and 
 a supporting face on an under side of the cushion and characterized by a plurality of pillars; 
 a first subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to contact a support surface on which the cushion is placed when the cushion is in an unloaded configuration; 
 a second subset of the plurality of pillars dimensioned to not contact the support surface in the unloaded configuration; 
 a plurality of troughs disposed on the supporting face, the plurality of troughs disposed between the second subset of pillars to decrease surface tension on the supporting face near the plurality of troughs; 
 wherein in a loaded configuration when a weight of a user is placed on the sitting face of the cushion at least some of the pillars in the second subset of pillars contact the support surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The cushion of  claim 16 , wherein the troughs are rounded. 
     
     
       18. The cushion of  claim 16 , wherein the troughs are positioned in a row and column pattern. 
     
     
       19. The cushion of  claim 16 , wherein the troughs are positioned only in locations of maximum surface tension. 
     
     
       20. The cushion of  claim 16 , wherein the troughs extend over the entirety of the supporting face.